Allegations
Of Abuse?
Prevention & Survival

Brief
Overview of Statistics 1976-1997
Current numbers are being calculated

1976-1997
National Estimates Child Abuse & Neglect Reports

From 1972 - 1997, 25
years over 46 million child maltreatment allegations have been made.
Of
these allegations 30-40% have been substantiated.

The number of allegations
have increased over 500% annually,
while the population of the USA has
increased only 27.5% or 57.7 million people.

267,636,061 - 1997 77,301
million under 19 years,

272,123,686 - 1999 78,457
million under19 years

It is important to note
that estimates are not completely accurate due to differences in states
reporting or not reporting, investigation procedures and whether or not
families are counted more than once in an annual report if reports against
them have been made multiple times.

For the sake of argument
lets deal with a 50% (23 million families)number of allegations that are unsubstantiated. This leaves 43
million family systems scrutinized, judged and disrupted during the
investigation and findings process over the last 25 years.Presently each year over 1.5 million US families have unsubstantiated
allegations and how the investigation is handled will affect many aspects of
this families future and quality of life.

Children
Reported for Maltreatment (1993 -1997 US Est.)

Following is a review of
the current trends in child abuse reporting and fatalities in the United
States, taken from the 1997 annual 50 States Survey done by the National
Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.

From 1993-1997 a period
of 5 years reports of allegations have increased
by 128,000 or 4%.
Substantiated cases have increased by 45,000 cases and services provided to
clients have remained around 60-70%.

Of significant interest
is that sexual abuse substantiated allegations have decreased
while neglect
substantiated allegations have increased.
By
comparison to national averages of child abuse and neglect reports from
1993-1996 Minnesota remained less than national average in percentage
change.

Up 7% in 92-93New legislation written

Down 6% in 93-94

Down 4% in 94-95

Down 3% in 95-96

There are yet no
published reports for 1997

Minnesota 1996 Child Protection Statistics

10,200 Substantiated
Allegations
40%of total number

Minnesota's
Breakdown of Statistics

Neglect - 6,673 (65.4%)

Physical Abuse - 3,240
(31.8%)

Sexual Abuse - 853 (8.4%)

Emotional Abuse - 215
(2.1%)

Statistics
have changed nationally in 10 Years

1987

Description

1997

Change

26%

Physical

22%

-4%

16%

Sexual

8%

55%

Neglect

54%

8%

Emotional

4%

12%

Other (medical, educational)

0%

Substance abuse is the
cited as one of the top problem areas. Of confirmed cases of child
maltreatment 40% involve the use of alcohol or other drugs in the US. This
suggests nationally that of the 1.2 million confirmed cases an estimated
480,000 children are mistreated each year by a caretaker with alcohol or
drug problems. Additional research suggests that alcohol or drug problems
are factors in a majority of cases of emotional abuse and neglect.

Prenatal exposure to
alcohol, drugs or malnutrition complicates childhood development and growth
and parenting these children is very difficult. Special needs adoptive
parents, foster and kinship caregivers are at significant risk.

Minnesotas Foster Children

42% Childs conduct or
condition

10% Family
interaction/financial hardship

1% TPR

Minnesota Foster Children Outcomes

1995 Minnesota had 18,492
children in foster care
for some period of time.
Approximately 9,000 on any
given day

50%
in family foster care vs institutional care

50%
left within 1 month

24% left within 6 months

18% remained more than 1
year

Minnesota
Fatalities Child Protection Statistics

1996
1995
1994
1993

8
9
7
6

The
death of one child at the hands of a caregiver is tragic.
Thirty children
died in Minnesota at the hand of a caregiver during 1993-1996.
Another 72
children were identified as having life threatening injuries.

99% of the time children
were victimized by family members or those responsible for their care.

What is known
about Minnesota
perpetrators in 1996?

99% are
victimized by family members and those most frequently in charge of
their care

80% Birth Parents

13% Other
Relatives

5% Parent Companions

1% Foster Parents, Facility Staff, Child Care Providers

1% Other Non-Relatives or unknown

Abuse in Day
Care/Foster Care creates a good deal of public and media attention. Such
publicity has created the perception that it is common place. This
perception is out of place with reality. In 1996, reports of abuse in
institution, foster and day care represent 3% nationally.

Life Is Unfair!Say it!
It's OK! Say
it Again.
Bad Things Do Happen to Good People!

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Endings New Beginnings.
It is not intended to convey legal, educational, medical or professional advice.
We recommend you find your own local professional who can work with you.

Making
connections to promote restoration and renewal for families and
children in crisis and traumato
bridge understanding of FASD.
This site does not replace professional
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information contained within this website are ideas that have worked
for families with FASD members and you
must use common sense, your intimate knowledge of your child,
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in making appropriate decisions. We cannot be held
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